Tanzania: Subsidize improved seeds, advocacy of sunflower farmers

Dar es Salaam – Sunflower farmers complain about high prices of improved seeds

To tackle the situation and improve productivity, they are demanding government subsidies.

Farmers also want agricultural research institutes to produce large quantities of high-yielding seeds.

Currently, one kilogram of improved sunflower seeds is sold at 35,000 shillings and is mainly imported from India.

Sunflower is grown in more than 10 regions, but farmers still use old methods that do not improve productivity.

Therefore, the relationship between production and processing varies. It is estimated that open pollinated varieties have an oil content of 15 to 20% whereas modern seeds contain between 35 and 42% oil.

Tanzania imports 60% of the cooking oils despite a huge potential of sunflower seeds, according to a report from the Bank of Tanzania in 2017. The country spends $ 120 million a year to import cooking oils.

Agriculture Development Trust established a facility to overcome these obstacles

According to Samba Pununta, president of the National Sunflower Farmers Association. "Most of the sunflower growers are small farmers who can not afford the current prices." If these seeds are produced locally, they can be sold at 10,000 shillings per kilogram. The government should use local institutions to produce high-yielding seeds. "

He was speaking during Sunflower Day held next to the 42nd International Trade Fair in Dar es Salaam." We are very grateful to the government for raising taxes on imported raw palm oil. but agriculture will not be improved if modern seeds are not distributed to all the small farmers who are the majority producers … They can not afford modern seeds because prices are high. "[19659012] A study by the Tanzania Agricultural Council (ACT) found that poor seed quality was a major challenge in sunflower production. Timothy Mmbaga said the researchers needed 3,000 tons of quality sunflower seeds a year.

For the majority of farmers to get the seeds, the government should give a subsidy of Sh 23 billion a year. the government imposed a tax on imports of crude palm oil, there must be an impact. So we need to prepare strategies that will improve the sector and the results should be seen, "he said.

" We need to have our local source of modern seeds that will always be available.

According to Tanzania's Edwin Rutageruka, general manager of the Trade Development Authority, said that sunflower oil was an important market in southern and eastern Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Ringo Iringo, president of the Tanzania Sunflower Oil Processors Association, pointed out that technology impeded processing.

That's why Tanzania has produced more than a million tons of sunflower seeds in 2016, but only 180,000 tons were processed

which contrasted sharply with South Africa where 970,000 tons of sunflower seeds were produced. "

" Ours is a big challenge, "he said. declared